Like 'brothers' since Oklahoma State, James Washington and Mason Rudolph carry connection to Steelers

Updated August 5, 2018 at 2:54 PM;Posted August 5, 2018 at 2:53 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph participates in drills on the opening day of rookie mini-camp at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Friday, May 11, 2018 in Pittsburgh. Barry Reeger | Special to PennLive (Barry Reeger)

LATROBE -- Mason Rudolph and James Washington each brought up the touchdown pass.

It happened during Rudolph's first career start, when they were both freshmen at Oklahoma State in 2014. Rudolph began the season as the Cowboys' third-string quarterback, but injuries pushed him into the starting role.

They were playing Baylor late in year and, at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Rudolph hit Washington with a 68-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the drive.

That was it: The moment they both knew their connection was special.

"Ever since then," Washington said, "we've been known as the guys that just chuck it deep every play."

The Cowboys lost that game, 49-28, but it provided a glimpse of things to come. Rudolph completed 13-of-25 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns. Washington was the leading receiver, catching four passes for 114 yards and a touchdown.

Oklahoma State won its final regular season game and its bowl game. With Rudolph and Washington leading the offense, the Cowboys went 10-3 in each of the next three seasons, winning two more bowl games. By the time the duo finished their college careers, they held multiple records.

Washington is the leading receiver in school history with 4,462 receiving yards. Rudolph holds more than 50 records, including passing yards (13,618) and touchdowns (92).

Now, thanks to the Steelers selecting the college teammates back-to-back in the 2018 NFL Draft -- Washington went in the second round, followed by Rudolph in the third -- their story isn't over yet.

"When I was watching (the draft), I saw him go first," Rudolph said. "I was through the roof for him, happy for him. It wasn't until I got the phone and watched the TV and watched myself be selected that I kind of realized that, 'Hey, we're going to the same team."

"It gave that ease," Washington said, "like I got somebody that will go through this process with me that you're familiar with."

Much like in college, Washington will see the field regularly first. He looks primed to fill the role vacated when the Steelers traded Martavis Bryant to the Oakland Raiders. While Rudolph might very well be Pittsburgh's quarterback of the future, right now he's still sitting behind the present -- Ben Roethlisberger.

But that doesn't mean Rudolph and Washington haven't relished having a familiar face on the practice field. There's an ease that comes with it, Washington said. They each know how the other one plays, and that makes a difference.

"We've just known each for so long," Washington said. "It's like, OK, we ran this route at Oklahoma State. You know exactly how I'm going to run it. I know exactly how you're going to throw it. So, I guess it just kind of builds his confidence in those throws."

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver James Washington participates in drills on the opening day of rookie mini-camp at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Friday, May 11, 2018 in Pittsburgh. Barry Reeger | Special to PennLiveBarry Reeger

That comfort level often means Rudolph finds himself targeting Washington. But during training camp, he's been making a point to work other receivers, especially with the first preseason game on Thursday against the Eagles quickly approaching.

"You kind of got to have that chemistry with other guys as well," Rudolph said. "You almost put James on hold a little bit to try and work that connection with other guys, but obviously when he's in the ballgame, it's a whole other dimension of trying to get him the ball."

While the relationship between Washington and Rudolph was solidified on the field, it was partially built away from it. The two spent plenty of time together at Oklahoma State. While Rudolph lived in the "quiet, quarterback" house, he said Washington had more of a party house. Rudolph would go there to relax.

"We're just so familiar with each other," Washington said. "It's almost like we're brothers ever since. The off-the-field relationship most definitely will help us on the field."

Rudolph could see Washington's talent from the first practice at Oklahoma State. The receiver, who is already impressing crowds at training camp with his leaping ability, made a jumping, fade catch on a 50-50 ball along the sideline. Rudolph still remembers marveling at his body control.

While Rudolph was standing on the sideline for that catch, it wasn't long until he was sharing the field with Washington. And even though their chemistry was almost immediate, they never stopped working at it.

"It can't just be deep routes and we ended up doing everything," Rudolph said. "He can run any route and he's shown that here, which was one of the knocks against him in pre-draft, which drove me crazy."

When asked what will make Rudolph successful at the professional level, Washington had a simple answer: His need to be perfect.

"Even if the rep's halfway right," Washington said, "he's going to want to redo it and make sure that it's perfect."